DTM-built #001 Mercedes-Benz CLK goes on sale

A company named Sports Purpose is selling a unique 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK racecar produced for the DTM championship but never driven competitively: it was a test vehicle with chassis number 001. Bernd Schneider, the DTM champion of that era, used to pilot it around the track for practice.

Like all other vehicles from the 2000 season, the CLK 001 features a steel tune-frame overlaid with carbon-fiber body panels. It packs a 4.0-liter V8 tuned to deliver 460 PS (454 hp / 338 kW) to the rear wheels.

It is believed that only eight such cars were made by Mercedes-Benz and HWA. Once the season was over, the CLK 001 was sold to a private collector from Brazil. It then proceeded to travel back to Europe. Its current condition is said to be flawless – whoever buys it will be able to take it to retro car races. It is still wearing the same livery as the CLK that won the DTM-2000.

The price is roughly estimated at U.S. $500,000.